Post-Operative Instructions:
Space Maintainers

When your child received a space maintainer, a small custom dental appliance designed to hold open the space left by a prematurely lost baby tooth. This appliance helps ensure that the permanent tooth has enough room to erupt properly.

Space maintainers are commonly recommended in pediatric dentistry when a baby tooth is lost early due to cavities, infection, or extraction. Maintaining this space helps prevent neighboring teeth from shifting and can reduce the risk of crowding or orthodontic problems later in life.

At Tiny Tooth Co., space maintainers are secured using a strong dental cement intended to keep the appliance in place until the permanent tooth begins to emerge.

What to Expect After Placement
It is normal for your child to notice the appliance at first as their mouth adjusts.

Your child may experience:

• Increased saliva or drooling for the first 2–3 days

• Minor speech changes, such as slight lisping or difficulty pronouncing certain words

• A feeling that the appliance is unusual or bulky initially

These symptoms are temporary and typically improve quickly as your child becomes accustomed to the space maintainer. Most children adapt within a few days to a week.

Eating and Diet Recommendations
Certain foods can loosen or damage the space maintainer, so dietary precautions are important. Please avoid sticky, chewy, or hard foods, including:

• Gummies

• Caramel

• Taffy

• Skittles or sticky candies

• Chewing gum

• Hard candy

These foods can pull on the appliance and cause it to loosen or detach. Encourage your child to chew on the opposite side of the mouth if the area feels sensitive during the first few days.

Oral Hygiene and Cleaning
Keeping the area around the appliance clean is extremely important for preventing plaque buildup and protecting the surrounding teeth.

Parents should help their child:

• Brush twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush

• Brush carefully around the band and wire of the space maintainer

• Continue flossing daily if possible

Plaque can easily collect around dental appliances, so good brushing habits are essential to prevent cavities around the appliance. Regular dental visits allow us to monitor both the appliance and your child’s developing teeth.

If the Space Maintainer Becomes Loose
Although space maintainers are designed to stay secure, they can occasionally loosen due to chewing pressure or sticky foods.

If the appliance falls out or becomes dislodged:

1. Place the appliance in a small plastic bag or container

2. Contact our office as soon as possible at 949-335-7303

Prompt replacement is important because teeth can begin to shift into the empty space quickly, which may interfere with proper eruption of the permanent tooth.

When to Contact Tiny Tooth Co.
Please call our office if:

• The space maintainer feels loose or bent

• Your child complains of pain or irritation near the appliance

• The appliance falls out completely

• Food repeatedly becomes stuck around the appliance

Our team can evaluate the appliance and ensure everything remains stable.

Why Space Maintainers Are Important
Baby teeth play a critical role in guiding permanent teeth into their proper positions. When a baby tooth is lost too early, neighboring teeth may drift into the empty space, potentially leading to:

• Crowding

• Misalignment

• Delayed eruption of permanent teeth

• The need for more complex orthodontic treatment later

Space maintainers help preserve the natural spacing needed for healthy dental development. Your child’s dentist will monitor the appliance at routine visits and remove it once the permanent tooth begins to erupt.